LOCAL YOUTH PLAYER HONORED -- At a Union City commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at the Union City Housing Authority, Mayor Brian Stack and the Board of Commissioners honored the spectacular soccer play of second-grader Kael Mejia, who attends Jefferson School in Union City. Kael was honored for his selection to play on numerous teams and tournaments throughout the region and world.

American Dream project (formerly Xanadu) gets a boost as Giants and Jets settle with developer

The massive recreational center/shopping development on Route 3, once called Xanadu but now called “American Dream,” has reached a settlement with the New York Jets and Giants. Both parties were suing each other over the once-stalled development, which will bring indoor skiing and lots of shopping and big restaurants to the Meadowlands.

According to NJ Biz, “The settlement could set the stage for the Edmonton, Canada-based developer to move forward with construction after nearly two years of litigation, one of many delays and problems during more than a decade of efforts to develop at the site by owners. The two National Football League teams filed lawsuits in 2012 and 2013 seeking to block a proposed expansion by Triple Five, arguing it would cripple game-day traffic around MetLife Stadium.”

The settlement agreement has not been made public.

Spring Awakening at High Tech High School

Winner of eight Tony Awards, including best musical, Spring Awakening is a rock musical adaptation of Frank Wedekind's 1891 expressionist play about the trials, tribulations, and exhilaration of the teen years. High Tech students will be not only acting, singing, and dancing, but also playing their own instruments and foraying into aerial work and tight choreography.

“The subject matter in Spring Awakening is mature and not recommended for anyone under 13, but hopefully with a powerful piece of theatre, we can enlighten, teach and appreciate the power and beauty of storytelling,” says Noah Dunton, junior from Jersey City. The musical is presented by the junior and senior majors of High Tech’s musical theatre department, who have also just been invited to represent the USA as one of 22 high schools across the country to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the summer of 2015.

Performances will take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 27-29, at 7 p.m., with an additional performance at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $15 at www.showtix4u.com.

The HT Musical Theatre is at 8511 Tonnelle Ave. in North Bergen.

This show is not recommended for anyone under 13.

Wear Purple on March 26 to help raise awareness about epilepsy

On March 26, please join the Cieciuch family of Secaucus and people from around the globe in wearing purple to raise awareness about epilepsy.

In 2008, a Canadian fourth grade student named Cassidy Megan extended a challenge to people of the world to stand up and show their support for those living with this life-altering, neurological disorder. The day took on a more local note when Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli and the town council officially proclaimed the day in 2012 in support of then nine-year-old Donald Cieciuch, who had been diagnosed with epilepsy when he was five. Now a sixth grade honor student at Huber Street School, Donald has become a spokesperson to not only bring awareness to the disease, but to ensure that people know what to do if they encounter someone having a seizure.

Epilepsy affects over three million people in the United States and 50 million people worldwide. That's more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease combined. In addition, one in ten people will have a seizure during his or her lifetime.

Despite being a major national health concern, the public is often unable to recognize common seizure types or how to respond with appropriate first aid. Consequently, persons with epilepsy often face social stigma and discrimination.

Donations can be made directly to The Anita Kaufmann Foundation, PO Box 11, New Milford, NJ 07646 or by visiting the website www.akfus.org.

Marshes of the Meadowlands: 1950 to Today

The Meadowland Environment Center (MEC) presents the program Marshes of the Meadowlands: 1950 to Today on Sunday, March 16 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Don Smith, retired chief naturalist with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, was born and raised in Little Ferry and is a fountain of knowledge on the history of the Hackensack River and its marshes. Don has spent hundreds of hours hiking, trapping, and traversing this unique ecosystem through the years. Join Don and experience our wonderful marshes through the eyes of this seasoned observer.

Registration is recommended and appreciated. To register visit http://mec.rst2.edu/. For more information call (201) 460-8300.

Watercolor Pencils for Kids: Signs of Spring

Bring your “budding” artists out for this popular program. Children will learn how to create a colorful seasonal drawing and then turn it into a painting, all with the same pencil. This “no mess” medium is easy to handle, even for young children, but sophisticated enough for older students too. Supplies provided for the session.

The program takes place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 22. Children ages five to 12 are invited and must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $12 per child, or $10 for MEC members. (No fee for adults.)

Registration is recommended and appreciated. To register go to www.njmeadowlands.gov/ec

Beat the crowd! Celebrate the arrival of spring a day early with this Harrier Meadow spring bird walk on Tuesday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to noon in North Arlington. Walk around the 70-acre natural area that is normally closed to the public and look for ospreys, killdeer and other spring arrivals, plus lingering winter waterfowl. The walk starts at Harrier Meadow, on Disposal Rd. near Schuyler Ave. The walk is sponsored by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute updates. Participants will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To RSVP, contact Don Torino at greatauk4@aol.com or (201) 230-4983.